The news at the moment is that there are some updates to the ESV (see the list here). The ESV is, in my opinion, one of the poorer modern translations available, primarily because of its tendency to use outdated English, but there are also other problems with it. This post will not be a detailed review of each and every change, just a few brief comments on a few that caught my attention.
- Genesis 3:16; 4:7
The real problem with most English translations of this verse is the use of the English word “desire.” That is simply a poor translation (see my discussion in section 7.1.3 of my work, here). This seems to derive from a combination of mistaken etymology and misreading its use in Song of Songs. - Job 41:1
The ESV explains Leviathan as “a large sea animal, exact identity uncertain.” The problem with this is that the identity of Leviathan in the ancient world was known, it was a multi-headed monster (note the reference to “heads” in Ps 74:14). The ESV unjustifiably domesticates Leviathan. - Job 42:6
The problem here is shared by most English translations. It is the word “repent.” The same Hebrew term occurs a number of times in the book of Job, but every other time it is translated as “comforted” (i.e. Job 2:11; 7:13; 16:2; 21:34; 29:25; 42:11). The translation “repent” does not fit the context of the book of Job at all, and fails to understand the theme of “comfort” throughout the book. For more discussion see my forthcoming commentary or my article: Martin A. Shields, “The Ignorance of Job,” Australian Biblical Review 68 (2020): 28–39.
That’s all for now. But — and quite aside from these observations — if you want a version of the Bible to read and make sense of, don’t get the ESV.